Stormwater Utility
The City of Fairfax Stormwater Utility was established on December 14, 2021, with an initial rate of $28.80 per billable unit.
Since its creation, the annual rate has increased at an average of 6% per year. A work session update was deferred from the February 25, 2025 Council meeting to a future date; a subsequent work session on May 13, 2025 provided an update with no action taken. On May 5, 2026, the Council unanimously approved an ordinance setting the stormwater utility rate at $36.02 per billable unit for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2026 — a 5% increase — expected to generate approximately $3.4 million in user fees, roughly $162,000 more than the prior year.
The utility funds capital projects including stormwater outfall improvements, urban forestry initiatives, and public education campaigns (such as storm drain marking programs), and carried approximately $2.4 million in its fund as of a September 2026 financial update.
Still open
- Consolidation of lead responsibility among the three departments handling tree maintenance and city-owned land management, as recommended to staff, has not yet been resolved per the July 14, 2026 discussion.
- Award of upcoming stormwater outfall projects referenced as anticipated within 'the next month or so' as of May 12, 2026 — final award status not confirmed in the record.
- Status of the stormwater utility credit available to residents who mark storm drains ('only rain down the drain') was noted as unconfirmed in the May 12, 2026 discussion.
What members have said
Voted aye on the May 5, 2026 ordinance setting the stormwater utility rate at $36.02 per billable unit.
- Council member Hardy Chandler
Voted aye on the May 5, 2026 ordinance setting the stormwater utility rate at $36.02 per billable unit.
Voted aye on the May 5, 2026 ordinance setting the stormwater utility rate at $36.02 per billable unit.
- Council member McClellan
Voted aye on the May 5, 2026 ordinance setting the stormwater utility rate at $36.02 per billable unit. Also commented on July 14, 2026 that stormwater utility funds have been dedicated toward urban forestry and have been helpful, but emphasized that consolidation of departmental leads — particularly around tree maintenance — is needed, and that staffing capacity remains a challenge for implementing those funds.
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Discussion time
councilcommissionMinutes of named discussion per transcribed meeting, Jan 13, 2025 onward.
History
Filled dots are actions on this topic; open dots are mentions.
- Feb 25, 2025City Council · item 12dWork Session – Discussion and update on the Stormwater Utility
The work session discussion and update on the Stormwater Utility was deferred to a future date.
- May 13, 2025City Council · item 12cWork Session: Stormwater Utility Update
Council received a discussion and update on the Stormwater Utility in work session; no action taken.